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NDT News

The AWS does not post AWS CWI exam pass rate online. Yet, estimates say that only 30-40% of people who write the CWI exam pass the test on the first attempt. And because the exam costs $1065 in 2018, you want to pass this exam to avoid paying this hefty fee again.

Read on to learn how to pass the CWI exam the first time, and how to prepare if you need to retake it.

What Areas You Need To Know

A CWI exam is challenging. That's because a CWI has to be able to accurately complete welding inspections to specific codes.

A CWI has to have a good understanding of testing methods and drawings and specs. He or she must understand the welding process and be fluent in welding terms.

The CWI exam is comprehensive and covers all these key points. Make sure you review how to become a CWI with these 5 steps.

Create a Test-Taking Strategy

One of the most important things you need to do in order to pass the CWI exam is to have a test strategy.

You should know how much time you can spend on each question before moving on. The passing grade on this exam is 72%. That means that if you are stumped on a question, move on.

Each question is only worth 2.2% of the total exam. It is in your best interest to ensure you have time to complete the entire test than to spend priceless minutes on a tricky question.

Check Your Work

Part 3 of the test is open book. You will be able to use the code book to look up answers.

Don't make the mistake of being overconfident and skip looking up the answer in the codebook. The examiners allow the book for a reason. Codes can be difficult and there is a lot of information.

Know What You Don't Know

Before preparing for your second attempt, carefully review where you went wrong the first time. You will be able to see your score for each of the 3 parts of the exam on your CWI test results.

If you scored an average of over 72% in total but got less than 72% on only 1 part, you may retake only that part.

Besides looking at just your score, also look at the topics you struggled with. then you can focus on brushing up your knowledge on those key areas.

Final Thoughts on AWS CWI Exam Pass Rate

Thank for reading! We hope you found this guide on the CWI exam helpful. Remember, just because the AWS CSI exam pass rate is low for first-time test takers, there is no reason you can't ace the test if you prepare and plan your strategy.